Don't I Know You?
I think it was an old Goosebumps story--yes, those wonderful R.L. Stine masterpieces of our youth--that started leading me to a particular type of daydream where I question if the world really exists for anyone else. Or for that matter, if there really was anybody else. As I type this, I realize that this is a rather self-centered daydream, but go with me here.
In the story, (I think it had a tent on the cover, but I'm not sure), some camper was terrorized by some unknown "thing." I think there may have been aliens involved or something. Long story short, the entire world was created as a test for him. Nothing else really existed, or at least the people in it were simply acting out a role. Ever since reading that book, I occasionally find myself wondering if the world does revolve around me--like if teachers I don't have just don't exist or if maybe there really isn't a place called Seattle. My world is only what I know, and everything else is simply "made for TV." It's a backwards, though interesting, way to gain some perspective. But really, this was all just background to explain what got me thinking about this tonight.
As I was walking home from Mass this evening, I passed a guy that looks like a guy we all went to school with. He was a couple years younger than us, kinda hung out with the theatre people, and knew Mike. I think his name was Patrick, but the last name escapes me at the moment (Sullivan?). Well anyways, as I am walking down the street, I see these two students walking in my direction, and one of them looks exactly like Patrick. Dead ringer. But as he passes, I hear him answer the typical freshman question of "What's your major?" with "Theatre and English. I'm a double." Now here, I do a double-take. I can't help but think to myself, "I know this guy." Which leads me back to my daydream. Did he just get recycled--or typecasted? I see an awful lot of people that look like people I know or used to know...maybe, just maybe, it's them again. Does that thought creep anyone else out? I'll ask you next time I see you; it's the only way I'll get a real answer.
In the story, (I think it had a tent on the cover, but I'm not sure), some camper was terrorized by some unknown "thing." I think there may have been aliens involved or something. Long story short, the entire world was created as a test for him. Nothing else really existed, or at least the people in it were simply acting out a role. Ever since reading that book, I occasionally find myself wondering if the world does revolve around me--like if teachers I don't have just don't exist or if maybe there really isn't a place called Seattle. My world is only what I know, and everything else is simply "made for TV." It's a backwards, though interesting, way to gain some perspective. But really, this was all just background to explain what got me thinking about this tonight.
As I was walking home from Mass this evening, I passed a guy that looks like a guy we all went to school with. He was a couple years younger than us, kinda hung out with the theatre people, and knew Mike. I think his name was Patrick, but the last name escapes me at the moment (Sullivan?). Well anyways, as I am walking down the street, I see these two students walking in my direction, and one of them looks exactly like Patrick. Dead ringer. But as he passes, I hear him answer the typical freshman question of "What's your major?" with "Theatre and English. I'm a double." Now here, I do a double-take. I can't help but think to myself, "I know this guy." Which leads me back to my daydream. Did he just get recycled--or typecasted? I see an awful lot of people that look like people I know or used to know...maybe, just maybe, it's them again. Does that thought creep anyone else out? I'll ask you next time I see you; it's the only way I'll get a real answer.
